Improvement in velocipedes



Al Ml Vioci pede.

Patented Aug. 24, 18695',

nu 'FETEHa Phmqumgnpher. wmingm. ne

`or decrease the stroke, and to' adapt the motion ofthe used on thelarge wheels of the ratchet-cones, and the .the foot-levers andcrank-shalt, in such a manner that .tintad sam v ARTHUR M. ALLE N,

oir-'NEW YoRK, N.4 Y; y"

'Letters Patent No.l 94,055, dated ngust 24, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and. making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. ALLEN, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof; which will enable those skilled in the art to makeand use the same, Ireference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l is asectional side view of this invention.

Figure 2 vis a plan or top view of Vthe same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in' the arrangement of what may be termedfoot-ratchets, in combination with the driving-wheel of a velocipede andwith hinged foot-levers, in such a manner that the power of the i'eet isalways on the live centre during the whole stroke otl the ratchet, andthat the rider is enabled to increase foot-levers to the length of hisle any portion of the machine.

With the foot-levers and ratchet-arms, I have cornbined a crank-shaftand connecting-rods extending from the crank-pins to the foot-levers insuch a manner that a reciprocating motion of the ratchet-arms inopposite directions is insured.

The ratchet-arms are combined with ratchet-cones having two or morespeeds, so that in going up-hill, or whenever an increased power with acomparative'decrease in speed is desired, said ratchet-arms can be gswithout changing power and speed of the driving-gear can berregnlated tosuit circumstances while using the sameamount of' power on thefoot-lever.

The ratchet-arms are kept in gear with the ratchetwheels by springssecured to bell-crank levers, which receive anoscillating motion fromthe rods connecting the springs bear downsomewhat equally upon theratchet-arms, whatever may be the position ot the foot-levers.

The tires of the wheels of' my velocipedes are composed of end-grainsections fastened to the -felloes by square-shouldered screws.

A back and side-rest, combined with the steeringmechanism, enables therider to steer or balance the machineby the motion of his body.

The steering-wheel is hung on a pivot or shaft, so that it can be swungor tilted sideways in a direction at right angles to the reach, therebyenabling the rider to balance the machine without turning either wheel'.

The operation of balancing the machine is further facilitated by thearrangement of a laterally-swinging saddle, combined with a lever, whichenables the rider to throw the weight of his body outon either side, asmay be required. l

'lhe brake-mechanism consists of shoes, which can be brought to bearfrom opposite sides on the sides of the wheel, so'as to stop the motionof the wheel effectually and without injuring its tread or face.

In the drawing, the letter'A designates the drivingwheel ofl avelocipede, which is mounted on "an axle, B, that has its bearing in thereach. O.

O11 the ends of this axle are mounted the ratchetcones D, each conebeing composed of two or more ratchet-wheels ofdifferent diameters, asshown in the drawing.

The motion of the wheel A is effected by means oi ratchet-arms E, Vwhichare hinged to foot-levers F, and L so arranged that they can be thrownin gear with either of the speeds of their ratchet-cones, being retainedin the required position by notched blocks, a, which are pivoted to thefoot-levers, each being provided with two or more notches (see iig.l 3)corresponding in number and positionto the speeds of the ratchet-cones.

These notches engage with a tooth,b, projecting from the edges of theratchet-arms, and when the blocks are turned ontheir pivots.' theyrelease-said teeth l), and the ratchet-arms can be moved in or out onthein pivots and brought in position to engage with either of the speedsof theratchet-cones, and with the corresponding notches in the blocks a.

It desired, additional ratchet-arms m to be operated by hand-levers.

.The foot-levers F are pivoted to standards G, which are secured to thereach G, and they are in convenient position to be operated by the feetof the rider, so that by imparting to said foot-levers 'an oscillatingmotion, the ratchet-arms will act on the ratchet-concs and the wheel Awill be revolved.

The principal advantage of my foot-ratchets over the ordinaryfoot-cranks is that, by the ratchet-arms, the power of the feet isalways applied to the live centre during the entire length of theirstroke, wherefas, with the footeranks,.the power is applied to the bestadvantage only at that moment when the crank passes itslive centre, andmuch power is thereby wasted. l

Another advantage is that with my foot-ratchet the stroke or motion' ofthe legs can be lengthcned or ay be applied.

shortened at pleasure, and by changing the ratchetarms from one speed ofthe ratchet-cones to the other,

the power and speed of the machine can be regulated withoutdiicultywhile in motion.v

The machine cannotXbe run backwards at all, as it will be liable to ingoing up-hill, each strokcof the foot being independent and secure byitself, for when either connecting-rod e reachesthe point farthest fromthe cones, the wheel cannot turn further backward, and

in using the foot-ratchets, one stroke of either foot can turn the wheelan entire revolution or more, according to the size of theratchet-wheel, and although the speed and power can be varied to anyextent the machine is capable of, the motion of the foot canbe alwaysregular and uniform.

The foot-levers F connect, by rods c, to cranks d, secured to thecountershaft e, which has its bearing in the standard G, and theposition of the cranks al is such that the foot-ratchets are compelledto move in opposite directions, one going forward when the other isgoing back, and rice tersa.

The rods-c and cranks (Z will, in practice, be made adjustable at bothends to regulate the stroke or throw of the foot-ratchets, and also theposition of the centre of the same for people with shorter or longerlegs.

The ratchet arms E .are kept in gear with the ratchet-cones D bymeans ofsprings j, which are secured in the arms g of the bell-crank levers g h,pivotedto the loot-levers F and bear ou the edges of the ratchet-arms.

The arms 71, of the bell-crank levers g h connect, by rods with theconnecting-rods c, as shown in fig. '1.

By this connection, the springs fare caused to bear down somewhat on theratchet-arms, whatever may be the position of the foot-levers, and theratchetmotion is rendered sure, and, though making a slight clicking, itmust be remarked that a certain amount of noise in arvelocipede isdesirable, since it serves to call the attention of foot-passengerstothe approaching machine.

The reach G forms the connection between the front or driving-wheel Aand the standard H, which straddles the hind or steering-wheel I, andforms the bearing for the hind axle J.

Ihe standard H swivels on a pivot, j, which has its bearings in abracket, k, that swings on a shaft, l,

which has its bearings in lugs or ears secured to the under surface ofthe reach C.

By this arrangement, the standard H has a double motion, irst a swivelmotion on its pivot, j, and a lateral swinging-motion 011 the shaft l.

Said standard connects, by rods la, with the backrest n, and from thisback-rest extends the arm-pieces o in such a position that they form aconvenient rest for thc arms of thc person occupying the saddle K.

By this arrangement, the rider is enabled Vto steer the velocipedcsimply by turning his body in the proper direction, and, furthermore, heis enabled to bring the steering-wheel 'in a laterally-inclinedposition, so that he is enabled to keep his balance with ease andfacility when turning a corner or running on a curve.

It' desired, however, a hand-lever, 11,1nay be used to bring the wheel Iinto the required inclined position. This hand-lever extends up from theshaft l, and it -may be connected to the tiller q, or it may be detachedand operated, as occasion may require.

The saddle K is hung on pivots, r, so that it can assume alaterally-swinging motion, and it connects with a hand-lever, s, whichhas its fulcrum on one of the pivots fr, secured in a standard, .whichrises from rIhe brake-shoes are situated on the sides of thewheel A, sothat by twisting the tiller-handles they are made to clamp said wheelfrom both sides, instead of being brought to bear on its periphery, asusual.

By this arrangement of the brakes, the face or tread:

of the wheel is saved from being worn out by the action of the'brake-shoes, and there is no unusual pressure on the bearings of thewheel. p

The rim or tire of the wheel is constructed of a lseries of sectionalblocks, w, with the grains running endways, or from the periphery towardthe centre of.

the wheel, and theseblocksvare fastened to the felloe of the wheel bysquare-shouldered screws a', as shown Yin fig. 1. Y

By, these means a wheel. can be constructed which is durable and easilykept in repair.

Havingthus described my invention,

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The foot-ratchcts and ratcl1et-arnis,in combiV` nation with thedriving-wheel ofa velocipede, substantially as described.

2. The cranks (l and connecting-rods c, in combination with thefoot-ratehets, and with the drivingwheel of a velocipede, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The bell-crank levers g 71., rods fi, ancL springs j, in combinationwith the ratchet-arms E and foot-lever F, substantially as'described.

4. The notched blocks a., in combination withthe ratchet-arms E andratchet-cones D, substantially as set forth.

'5. The bracket k and shaft l, in combinationwith the pivot j, standardH, and wheel I, thereby giving to the standard H a double motion, viz, aswivel motion and a laterally-swinging motion, substantially and for thepurpose set forth. v

6. Steering or balancing a veloeipede by the rest n.,

connected to the standard of the'steering-wheel, subv stantially in themanner described.

7. The combination of lthe hand-lever s with the swinging-saddle K andreach E, substantially as described.

8. The brake-shoes fr, arranged to bear onv the sides of thedrivingfwheel, instead of on its circumference, as set forth.

9. A wheel, having its tire constructed of end-grain.

Witnesses: Y

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAs'rENHUBER.

